What’s a fair price for ceramic paint treatment?

Seems like something best left to a pro. What's the going rate for a paint correction and ceramic coating (maybe clay bar and buff some scratches)?

I'd assume it varies based on location, experience, and product used. My first one was $800 (9 years ago) and the last one was $2800 (6 months ago)

In reply to Steve_Jones :

That's.. not inexpensive. Thanks for the data point. What kind of car was that $2,800 job?

Check my EVO thread. Did it myself. 4 hours a night x 4 nights. Looks better than new 

In reply to OHSCrifle : 

$2800 was a 4Runner. In the last few years I've had 5 or so done, anything from a Ferrari California to F-350. All were $2500-$2800. That's full correction and Modesta coating. I know his cheapest starts at $1200. I know there are cheaper shops, not sure there are better (in this area). Here is 4Runner with 28 miles, factory vs corrected.

Full paint correction is about 1700$ for a used car in California with minimal damage and no sanding or damage repair required. Cut that down to about 900 or so if it's a new car and it needs minimal correction. 
 

cqquartz with a warranty is about 700-900 for application here on top of that. That is bodywork and glass. Add another 200 or so to do the wheels at the same time. 
 

so last new car I did this with was my sti. I had the car new and never dealer washed. It took me about 6-8 hours to get the car prepped for ceramic. Total cost in pads and materials was around 150$. I like using new pads on a new car, coating was another 120$ and that was enough to do the entire exterior, the interior painted/gloss black surfaces and the wheels and barrels. 

You guys sure do care a whole lot more about your paint than I do.

With a new car, paint correction is attainable as a DIY project with a few hundred $$$ in basic equipment. There are classes that one can attend to learn the basics of machine operation, the differences in machine types and which chemicals to use. Between signing up for classes, buying a machine and all of the "stuff" that one would need to do their own vehicles still wouldn't add up to having one of your cars done by a shop. 

Locally they charge $1500 as a base for coating with a 7-year warranty. The catch is the warranty requires taking it back to the shop every year for an "annual tune-up" for $250. No thanks. I bought a buffer, watched a bunch of videos on the Autogeek website, grabbed 2 hoods at the local junkyard and practiced. Now I have a different machine, lots of various pads and buckets of chemicals. Our cars are always clean, look good and over the years still don't have $1000 invested. Trust me, if I can do it anyone can.
 

Adam's Polishes are my "go-to" and their Graphene coatings work very well. 

Streetwiseguy said:

You guys sure do care a whole lot more about your paint than I do.

I care more about not having to wash my car to keep it looking good. It's just not my thing, I don't enjoy it. Many people do, and that's great, I see it as a waste of time. I also get top dollar when I sell because the people I sell to were probably going to get it done anyway. 

Steve_Jones said:

Streetwiseguy said:

You guys sure do care a whole lot more about your paint than I do.

I care more about not having to wash my car to keep it looking good. It's just not my thing, I don't enjoy it. Many people do, and that's great, I see it as a waste of time. I also get top dollar when I sell because the people I sell to were probably going to get it done anyway. 

Hey, man, I washed my car just a few weeks ago.  Maybe.  I enjoy performing my annual spring car wash.  Makes it so much easier to drive when I can see out the windows.

I did it to both my Golf R and 996 Turbo.  The Golf was basically new and the 996 was a garage queen, so I was able to get very good results.  I used the Adam's polishes gear, compound, polish, clay bar and ceramic with their buffer.

I need to do the Land Cruiser but just don't have the time.  Both of the cars took me 2+ days to do, I figure the land cruiser will take 4+ days just due to its size and the fact that it's black.  That said, I really don't want to pay a shop nearly three grand to do it for me.

I care about rolling thru the automatic carwash a lot during winter, and also not waxing Mrs. gumby's car, ever. Her current car is the first, and so far only, car I have had ceramic coated.

Paint was 2500miles old, and obvious that no one cared for it before us. Heavy paint correction and ceramic coat cost us $1600. It looks better than new, and absolutely fresh with just a quick hose off. GTechniq supposed to last 9yrs; we'll see.

I guess the ceramic wax I bought and put on with my buffer isn't the right stuff or done properly. 

As Steve said, just depends. 

I had the BRZ done in September it was $1600-1700 for paint correction and C.Quartz professional coating. This stuff has a 5 year warranty, but given my car isn't driven often and is garage kept, it will likely last 10+ years. Total ended up being closer to $2300 since we did PPF on the front bumper and headlights, and ceramic window tint. 

I don't buy into the "Ceramic wax" stuff. Real ceramic coating takes days as the coating has to cure inside away from moisture and extra dirt/dust. I dropped the BRZ off on Monday, picked it up Friday morning. 

Over at Classic Motorsports, this video on this subject that might help: